Obituary

Melvin “Chuck” H. Picking

January 10, 1923 - January 2, 2014

Melvin H. Picking, known to most as “Chuck,” passed away on Jan. 2, 2014, at 90 years of age. Chuck was born in Ashland, Wis., on Jan. 10, 1923, to Fred B. Picking and Bertha Bishop Picking. Chuck’s family moved to the Odell, Ore., area in 1938, where he finished his schooling at the Odell High School, graduating in 1941. He then entered the Army in the spring of 1942, serving in the South Pacific. After leaving the service at the end of World War II, Chuck purchased a small orchard on Chamberlin Road. On Jan. 8, 1948, Chuck married Mary Ellen Wirrick. They bought additional orchard land over the next few years, and subsequently got into the wholesale fruit industry.In 1982, the Pickings retired, and in 2006, they moved into Providence Down Manor. Chuck moved to Ashley Manor in August 2013. Chuck is survived by his wife of nearly 66 years, Mary Ellen; son Brad Picking and his wife, Vicki, of Kailua Kona, Hawaii, and daughter Holly Jones and her husband, Doug, of Sandy, Ore.; grandson Brian Jones and his wife, Karly, and granddaughter Laurel Jones, of Sandy, Ore.; sister Maude Baskins, of Hood River, Ore., and brother Vernon and his wife, Carol, of Corvallis, Ore.Chuck is preceded in death by his parents and his oldest brother, Boyd, who passed away in 2004. A visitation for Chuck has been scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon at Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave. Hood River. Chuck will be laid to rest at the Pine Grove Cemetery on Thursday, Jan. 9.Memorial contributions are asked to be made to Providence Hospice of the Gorge, 1630 Woods Court, Hood River, OR 97031.Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000. Please visit andersonstributecenter.com to leave a note of condolence for family.